Food, service and ambiance were all wonderful. Had the delicious shrimp enchilada combination and a house margarita. Happy to be able to order just one enchilada as It was the perfect amount of food just before the theatre. Very convenient location and the screens were tuned into the NBA Final and the World Cup games!! The duo singing on the patio was good too! read more

Yummy food and good ambience! The service was friendly and inviting. I enjoyed mole enchiladas stuffed with chicken, Spanish rice and black beans were savory. I only wish the temperature on the mole sauce was hotter or tortillas under heated I don't know I guess I'm picky about details like that. Overall good place for a happy hour or group gathering with friends for a tasty experience. I'll be back to try some combo plates which look delicious read more

I love El Portal. The food is delicious, the portions are generous, and the prices feel fair for what you get. It really hits the spot when you're craving comforting, flavorful Mexican food. The chips are fresh, the salsa is good, and the menu has offerings that feel more authentic and varied than a lot of other places. I especially appreciate that they have Yucatán cuisine options, which you do not always see at every Mexican restaurant. I am also very fussy with mole and typically do not like it at all, but I actually really enjoy the mole from El Portal. It has been a real eye-opener for me and honestly inspired me to give mole another shot elsewhere. One thing to keep in mind: a lot of the combo plates are smothered in delicious red sauce and plenty of cheese, so if you are not a big cheese person, just be aware before ordering. The enchiladas are good, though sometimes they could use a little more sauce, as the tortillas can come out a bit dry. The margaritas are tasty, but they do feel a little small for the price (Roughly $16 for a 8oz glass?!) The staff are friendly, the vibe is nice, and overall the food is consistently good. The only other heads-up is that some of the tables and booths are pretty small, so it can feel a little cramped in the main dining room. Also, **make sure you get your parking validated**. This is important because if you do not, the parking lot can be extremely expensive. You can also look for street parking on Green Street. Still, El Portal is a spot I really enjoy and it is on our regular rotation of places to dine. read more

The average score is a bit harsh. This place is a solid 4 stars but I rounded up to 5 for the good service. After visiting the Huntington Library in the grueling heat and hordes of people, looked for somewhere closeby to eat on co-pilot, and was suggested this place with a patio which was one of my requirements. Arrived and parked on the street on a Sunday which is free, and could not find the place it's kind of tucked away. After walking up a block found the charming little passage way with some patio seating. It seems like it's a family-owned and operated restaurant as always a great indicator of things to come is the complimentary chips and salsa. They were perfectly thin crispy non-salty and warm, paired with a nice salsa that seems house made but was a little too tomato/ketchupy but by no means bad. I had crispy taco with shredded beef and chili relleno combo. It was pretty good. ($21 )I enjoyed the rice and beans and it was a filling portion. Wife and mother-in-law split a carne asada plate the meat was flavorful and tender ($30) came with the cheese enchilada was also very enjoyable. They have a really large patio so it's hard to fill but people kept coming in and out so the locals know something. It won't blow you away but it is a very solid Mexican spot and I'm glad we stopped by. Dos Equis bottles were really cold, gracias para mi bungholio. read more

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Private rooms available this one holds 64 reserve for $200 min purchase $900 tgeres a smaller room more quiet holds 45. You c. reserve outdoor space for buffet for additional $100 or choose a custom smaller menu. Chips, salsa, soda, salad, beans, rice, cheese enchiladas, grilled chicken, grilled steak, guacamole abd corn/flour tortillas. read more

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We were seated right away when we arrived, great service, the margaritas were delicious !! My daughter and I ordered the " Cochinita Pibill " it was delicious came with black beans and Rice, we had ordered Guacamole it was home made Came with "Chicharrón Never had it served that way, it was delicious. They had patio sitting we sat indoors since it was a cold night. I definitely recommend and will return. read more

El Portal - Cochinita pub Diet Coke - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I skipped lunch for my dinner anticipating a well deserved meal, I know first hand the restaurant business is tough so I'll say not bad, not good seemed the experience was low energy. My date opted on NOT having another margarita she said "I'll save the calories" food was ok meh, they closed at 8 read more

Pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this place. I was nervous because it had 3.5 stars on Yelp. Idk why. It was such a lovely experience. I came with my husband and family. We celebrated my mom and my birthday. They allowed us to bring our own cake from Portos. It's such a lovely place! The ambiance is intimate so it is perfect for a date or low key event. The food came out so quickly and everyone loved their food. They offer complimentary chips and salsa. Our table ordered shrimp tacos, chilaquiles, mole enchiladas (chicken), and two chicken fajitas. Everything was absolutely delicious. My mom is incredibly picky and she didn't have one complaint. We didn't order alcohol but I had El Pepino mocktail. It was refreshing and delicious. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff were friendly and attentive. Highly recommend. read more

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Charming Mexican restaurant with incredible live music and entertainment. El Portal captures the ambiance of a fiesta filled household. The outdoor patio and indoor seating available make the dining experience perfect. I love their tacos, burritos, and combo plates, you honestly can't go wrong with anything on their menu. I usually come with a group because there's plenty of seating. As for the staff, they are the sweetest. Highly recommend supporting this amazing local business. read more

What I like about El Portal is not only do you get good food and service, but also how they mix up the menu with specials. This is the local Pasadena go to for a good time, good food and relaxed atmosphere There is a charm to this place that's appreciated by the locals and a quaint discovery for out of owners. read more

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I really enjoyed eating here. This restaurant is tucked away in Pasadena and really works to immerse you with the themed decor. Super immersive and cute. Such a solid spot for authentic Mexican cuisine. Charming through and through. Both the indoor and outdoor area are themed and delightful and I don't think either one is better or worse, in fact I want to come again just to spend more time inside because I was super happy with the outside alleyway seating and would love to bring others to enjoy it as well. I thought the crunchy tacos were excellent. Usually I'm not much of a chicken taco fan but I thought these ones were super good and savory. Service was spot on. Atmosphere was authentic and festive. Food was perfection. Can't ask for anything more! read more

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Worst Mexican food I've ever had. Lots of Caucasian's were eating in this establishment. I should have known better. Horrible food. I ordered a burrito machaca... it was meh and my husband got the special which was awful. Location is nice but we didn't get to sit outside with the Caucasian folk. We got seated in the furthest corner of the restaurant. read more

El Portal never disappoints! The patio is absolutely lovely -- a great spot to relax and soak in the atmosphere. We started with the guacamole, which was fresh and delicious, served with chips and salsa. A must-order have. We were only there for drinks. Our waitress was attentive, polite, and made the whole experience feel welcoming. The vibe here is consistently great, which keeps us coming back. One small note: the beer bottles could be served a bit colder -- but honestly a minor detail when everything else hits the mark. Highly recommend El Portal for a fun, laid-back meal with great food. read more

El Portal - Love this vibe. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

We had tickets to a show at Pasadena Playhouse so we're looking for someplace close by. El Portal is basically across the street at the Arcade shopping area. It was a lovely dinner, very pleasant with live music playing. We sat outside had a lovely cool breeze on a warm day. At our table we ordered the Yucatán Trio, el Portal Tostada and a combination with chile relleno, chicken enchilada, and pork taco. We also had a slice of flan for dessert. The food was delicious and service was excellent. read more

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Seated without a wait around 7p on a Saturday. Patio seating with a unneeded propane heater tableside. Food and drinks ordered. Food arrived lightning fast. Food was tasty and service was attentive. read more

This Mexican restaurant is hidden off of Green Street with private parking lot. The whole lot is festive for the holidays and decorated for Christmas. The choices are many, but the fish tacos had my name on it. Our waiter was quick to bring our dinner and was nice about keeping up with our orders. The plus for this restaurant is got 500 more frequent flyer miles by dining here! read more

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Happy hour is until 6 which is a win in my books. I noticed some places are only until 5 these days not even 5:30.. 11$ happy hour drinks (margaritas and Paloma's are strong) and 11$ for 2 large beef flautas. You can add a side of beans for 5$. The bar can get packed and busy, so be prepared to be patient especially if the one bartender is making drinks for the entire restaurant. My main squeeze got a chicken fajita burrito (which he said was better than the carne asada one, surprisingly) -- definitely check this place out and get an outside table if you come with a group. The patio is nice read more

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It's a fairly nice restaurant in terms of atmosphere. The service is great--the waiters are very sweet and attentive. However, a word of caution: I got the worst stomachache after eating here. Not sure what caused it, but I usually don't have this problem. Tortilla Soup (complimentary from the waiter due to me picking no beans in my taco) - Very well-seasoned and flavorful. It had tortilla strips, cheese, and guacamole in it. 2 Carne Asada Soft Tacos ($23) - Pretty good, though I'm not sure they were completely worth the price. They do come with a generous serving of rice, but these definitely weren't the best tacos I've had. I probably wouldn't come back here any time soon. read more

El Portal - #15 Two Soft Tacos of Carne Asada Combo - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Pretty solid spot. The ambiance is very nice and their outdoor patio is *the* best on a beautiful sunny day. Food was tasty- we had 2 of their burritos (carne asada and pork). Solid 7/10. I had a mango margarita which was very yummy but definitely on the weaker side in terms of alcohol. Service was quick. read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This is a pretty decent restaurant. Staff was very nice, location was clean and food was good. Portions were good size and pricing was fair. We arrived at about 5pm on a Friday night and it was fairly empty, but by about 6pm, it was pretty packed. So if you're going to go, be prepared to wait. The only issue encountered was lack of attention to the table. No one really checked on us to offer refills or if we needed anything. It may just be due to the staffing though, so it's all ok. They were great when we were able to flag them down. read more

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Good food, great drinks, friendly service. Nice indoor and outdoor seating options. Great place to catch a game or hangout w friends. Paid parking is available on site or metered parking off site on side streets. read more

Meh! Hadn't heard of this place so we had no expectations. It was okay, but nothing to write home about. Our server sat us then forgot about us. The guacamole wasn't very authentic and it took forever to get the servers attention. Maybe it was an off day... read more

I came to this restaurant for a second time and had a great experience again. Not just the food but the customer service is amazing. I will definitely come back again. read more

8 of us were going to the Pasadena Playhouse and decided to have dinner here before going to the show and were glad we did and made reservations as outside tables were pretty full and listening to a 3 piece band playing music. My wife really enjoyed her vegetarian tostada and I enjoyed my chicken tacos. One of the interesting things on the menu, and it's on many meals, is that one taco was $19 and two tacos a total of $21. All 8 of us enjoyed our meals and although we didn't know the songs, the 3 band members came inside at one point and played. And to not forget, Raul C was a good server. read more

The pumpkin soup was hands down one of the best! A must try when available on their seasonal fall menu. Topped with infused olive oil and pepita seeds. Sooooo good! I would definitely go back just for a bowl. Chile relleno had that melty cheese spilling out with each fork full. Chicken taco for Ray and a enchilada for the mama. A la carte or in a meal. Service was great, food was substantial but the star was the pumpkin soup. After packaging up our left overs chips and salsa was our dessert of choice. Plenty to choose from on their traditional menu offerings. A beautiful venue for a small intimate dinner or for larger group gatherings. The ambiance on their patio is divine for an evening out. It's a courtyard right in front of their restaurant surrounded by little cute shops. They do have mariachi's performing table by table so it does get a little harder to have conversations. If you're into it, it'll be enjoyable. Heaters kept us nice and toasty. Free parking for dine in customers! The attendant will assist you. What an enjoyable first visit to celebrate our "cousinsgiving" read more

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Preface- Thanks to my Yelp friends, I've been lucky in finding great eateries and establishments in the Pasadena area. And this luck did not stop here! El Portal located on Colorado Blvd. in the center of Pasadena town. it's in a strip mall or strip office building. You will have to walk into the courtyard to find it. Indoor dining and patio dining available. In the winters they fire up their heaters and lamps in the patio. Food decent. Service decent. Ambiance decent and I consider it to be as authentic as one can be in the area you are at to luck out and find a Yucatan eatery. Guacamole made fresh to order. The carne asada was seasoned well and I had it served as a taco. Mariachi band on site and table roam. Price reasonable. Go there or be square! read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This restaurant was very pleasant on the eye. They have indoor seating and outdoor seating. Beautiful ambience in both places. The food was excellent and delicious. The service staff made our visit exceptional. They were very attentive and quick to make sure we had everything that we needed. Coffee cup was never half empty...delicious coffee by the way. Thank you El Portal staff. read more

Busy lunch time spot even on a weekday! Clearly a good spot with many regulars in search of authentic Mexican food. Guacamole with chicharones made in house is a hit. The sizzling fajitas are also a win. Highly recommend for group meal, happy hour, and any special occasion. Heard there's mariachi bands too great vibes on weekends. read more

El Portal - Lomos Saltado - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Armando took such great care of us! We tried the cheeseburger for cheeseburger week then it was delicious! We sat outside and it was a beautiful sunny day. Parking was easy in the back. Prices were very reasonable. read more

We've been eating at El Portal for years. Always good and one of our favorites. But lately, it's just been amazing. They've tweaked their recipes and it's that much more delicious. The chicken enchiladas with verde sauce now have to be the best in the area. Their salsas are deeper and more authentic We always order their black beans which are fantastic too. The food is next level delicious. read more

El Portal is a solid spot for Mexican food. I got the Carne Asada burrito and it hit the spot, was absolutely delicious. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant is large, clean but filled up fast! Street parking or validated lots are easy and convenient. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! read more

Great for large or small groups. Food and drinks were delicious during happy hour and you got more choices in the regular menu as well. Our service was attentive and we got our request and refills as needed. Private parking but scan the QR code inside the restaurant to register your car. read more

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I have to agree with Deb D. We went last night to a group dinner before seeing Brigadoon at the Pasadena Playhouse which by the way was outstanding . i ordered 2margaritas . The waitress came back and i asked how much. $57.46 !! for 2 drinks...I couldn't believe it. This wasn't a Las Vegas show with inflated prices. Just a neighborhood restaurant. What gives guys? Sorry, but I won't be returning Peter I. read more

Amazing . I love this place . We came for Mother's Day and everything was so lovely . The food and dessert were delicious. They had mariachi and it was Sunday brunch' special . Great price for a great time . Everyone was so nice and the ambiance was amazing. read more

El Portal did a great job of helping make my mom's 95th birthday lunch very special. We were in a private room and treated very well by all staff. From the time I booked Daniel was very accommodating and Rudolfo was an excellent server who always had a smile on his face. All of our guests really enjoyed their food and we never felt rushed. It was an all around a wonderful day! Thank you!! read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place is one of the special spots. It's tucked away in a gorgeous walkway surrounded by local shops. The restaurant feels welcoming, comfy, a place of warmth, live music, and good times run by long time locals. I would highly recommend if you're looking for a relaxing romantic night out. The service was quick and attentive. The food was yummy hot and fresh! read more

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We went in on happy hour just after 3:00 and were told the only special was $10.00 margaritas and $3.00 tacos. Turns out the bill is $55.00 before tip for 2 margaritas and 2 fish tacos. What??? It will be another two years before I come back again like happened last time. El Portal, can you do better with attentive customer service? read more

The restaurant has a parking lot but it may be full if it's busy. This is a great spot for group gatherings. There's comfortable outdoor seating, and the staff are very nice. You get complimentary tortilla chips for your table. The food is decently priced as you get a large portion of food. There's a lot on the menu that I would go back to try. read more

El Portal - Enchiladas de Mole Special - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

The food here was just okay in my opinion, not the greatest Mexican food. I got the Yucatan Trio and it was decent. The dishes weren't too salty and the meat was moist which was good. I wasn't the biggest fan of the tamale though, it was a bit slimy. I also found a small hair in my rice. The prices are also pretty high for Mexican food and the quality of what we had didn't justify the price. The service was great though. The servers were nice and attentive. The vibes inside and outside were nice as well. There was a musician playing outside. The bathroom wasn't the cleanest though, the floors were pretty greasy. read more

El Portal - Yucatan Trio Special - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Lots of seating inside and out. We parked on the street but I think there's a parking lot too. Service was attentive and prompt. We shared a Yucatán sampler which was good for 2 not so hungry people. Everything was delicious esp the black bean soup. We got the Cadillac margarita. The large size which was good for two people as well.....Though I've had better margaritas. Solid dependable food is what I'd call this place. read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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